"so this boy is an object of interest to your uncle?" resumed warner powell.

"yes."

"does he give any reason for his interest?"

"no, except that he is inclined to help him when there is an opportunity."

"does the boy know him?"

"no."

"has he met your uncle?"

"yes; uncle thomas frequently visits chicago--he lives in milwaukee--and stays at the sherman when he is here. he has stopped and bought a paper of luke once or twice."

"i remember my sister told me this boy luke was a newsboy."

"how did he get in with your aunt?"

"i don't know. i presume it was a chance acquaintance. however that may be, the young rascal seems to have got on her blind side, and to be installed first favorite."

"your sister doesn't like it?"

"not much. between you and me, louisa--mrs. tracy--means to inherit all the old lady's property, and doesn't like to have anyone come in, even for a trifle. she'll have me left out in the cold if she can, but i mean to have something to say to that. in such matters you can't trust even your own sister."

"i agree with you, warner."

the two young men ate a hearty dinner, and then adjourned to a billiard room, where they spent the afternoon over the game. warner reached home in time for supper.

"where have you been, warner?" asked mrs. tracy.

"looking for work," was the answer.

"what success did you meet with?"

"not much as yet. i fell in with an old acquaintance, who may assist me in that direction."

"i am glad you have lost no time in seeking employment. it will please aunt."

warner powell suppressed a smile. he wondered what mrs. merton would have thought could she have seen in what manner he prosecuted his search for employment.

"this is harold," said mrs. tracy, proudly, as her son came in. "harold, this is your uncle warner."

"so you are harold," said his uncle. "i remember you in short pants. you have changed considerably in five years."

"yes, i suppose so," answered harold, curtly. "where have you been?"

"in australia, california, and so on."

"how long are you going to stay in chicago?"

"that depends on whether i can find employment. if you hear of a place let me know."

"i don't know of any unless aunt eliza will take you into her employ in place of that newsboy, luke walton."

"she can have me if she will pay me enough salary. how much does luke get?"

"i don't know. he won't tell."

"do you like him?"

"i don't consider him a fit associate for me. he is a common newsboy."

"does aunt eliza know that?"

"yes; it makes no difference to her. she's infatuated with him."

"i wish she were infatuated with me. i shall have to ask luke his secret. aunt eliza doesn't prefer him to you, does she?"

"i have no doubt she does. she's very queer about some things."

"harold," said his mother, solicitously, "i don't think you pay aunt eliza enough attention. old persons, you know, like to receive courtesies."

"i treat her politely, don't i?" asked harold, aggressively. "i can't be dancing attendance upon her and flattering her all the time."

"from what i have seen of luke walton," thought warner powell, "i should decidedly prefer him to this nephew of mine. he seems conceited and disagreeable. of course, it won't do to tell louisa that, for she evidently admires her graceless cub, because he is hers."

"are you intimate with this luke?" asked warner, mischievously.

"what do you take me for?" demanded harold, of fended. "i am not in the habit of getting intimate with street boys."

warner powell laughed.

"i am not so proud as you, nephew harold," he said. "travelers pick up strange companions. in san francisco i became intimate with a chinaman."

"you don't mean it?" exclaimed harold, in incredulity and disgust."

"yes, i do."

"you weren't in the laundry business with him, were you?" went on harold, with a sneer.

"no," he answered aloud. "the laundry business may be a very good one--i should like the income it produces even now--but i don't think i have the necessary talent for it. my chinese friend was a commission merchant worth at least a hundred thousand dollars. i wasn't above borrowing money from him sometimes."

"of course, that makes a difference," said mrs. tracy, desiring to make peace between her brother and son. "he must have been a superior man. harold thought you meant a common chinaman, such as we have in chicago."

the reunited family sat down to supper together.

after supper warner made an excuse for going out.

"i have an engagement with a friend who knows of a position he thinks i can secure," he said.

"i hope you won't be late," said mrs. tracy.

"no, i presume not, but you had better give me a pass key."

mrs. tracy did so reluctantly. she was afraid harold might want to join his uncle; but the nephew was not taken with his new relative, and made no such proposal.

in reality, warner powell had made an engagement to go to mcvicker's theater with his friend stephen webb, who had arranged to meet him at the sherman house.

while waiting, warner, who had an excellent memory for faces, recognized luke, who was selling papers at his usual post. there was some startling news in the evening papers--a collision on lake michigan--and luke had ordered an unusual supply, which occupied him later than his ordinary hour. he had taken a hasty supper at brockway & milan's, foreseeing that he would not be home till late.

"aunt eliza's boy!" thought warner. "i may as well take this opportunity to cultivate his acquaintance."

he went up to luke and asked for a paper.

"you don't remember me?" he said, with a smile.

"no," answered luke, looking puzzled.

"i saw you on prairie avenue this morning. mrs. merton is my aunt."

"i remember you now. are you mrs. tracy's brother?"

"yes, and the uncle of harold. how do you and harold get along?"

"not at all. he takes very little notice of me."

"he is a snob. being his uncle, i take the liberty to say it."

"there is no love lost between us," luke said. "i would like to be more friendly, but he treats me like an enemy."

"he is jealous of your favor with my aunt."

"there is no occasion for it. he is a relative, and i am only in her employ."

"she thinks a good deal of you, doesn't she?"

"she treats me very kindly."

"harold suggested to me this evening at supper that i should take your place. you needn't feel anxious. i have no idea of doing so, and she wouldn't have me if i had."

"i think a man like you could do better."

"i am willing to. but here comes my friend, who is going to the theater with me."

looking up, luke was surprised to see stephen webb.